Improvement in chair-seats



J. LEMMAN.

, CHAIR-SEAT. No. 189,758, Patented April 17; 1877.

NJETERS, PNDTO-UTMOGRAPHER WASHINGTON D C,

UNITED- STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

JOHN LEMMAN, or CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHAIR-SEATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 189,758, dated April 17,1877; application filed April 6, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN LEMMAN, of Oin cinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Chair-Seats, of which the following is a clear and exact description This invention relates to chair-seats made of woven cane.

The object of my improvement is to supply furniture-dealers with detachable seats of this kind adapted to chairs manufactured in such a way that a worn-out seat can be removed bodily, and a new one substituted therefor.

To this end my invention consists of a detachable woven cane seat, composed of a bent strip or frame ofsuitable form, over which the cane-cloth is stretched, and to which it is permanently secured.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a plane view of my invention, the detachable seat (with portion of the cane-cloth broken away) being shown as fitted within the rim of the seat-frame of a chair. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3illustrates, in section, a modification in the manner of securing the cane-cloth to the strip or frame of the seat.

The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

In constructing my detachable seats, they will be made of difierent sizes and conformations in conformity with the various sizes and styles of chairs turned out by the manufacturer, so that a dealer can order any style of seat by number, or other distinctive mark. The seat illustrated is composed of a strip of wood, A, bent to the required shape around a form. The cane-cloth B is stretched over this bent strip, lapping over the exterior side thereof. Before stretching the cane-cloth, glue is applied, either to the cane or to the sides of the bent strip covered by the cane, so that when the cane cloth has been properly stretched over the strip, and the glue has been allowed to dry, the cane-cloth will firmly adhere to the wooden strip. The cane cloth is stretched over the wooden strip or frame by means of a templet and die, the cloth being placed upon the templet, (the cavity or opening of which has the form of the seat,) with the reverse side up, while in a damp and pliable condition, and

after the strip has been placed on the cloth, the die is brought down to force the strip into the templet, bending the edge of the canecloth around the strip. The seat thus made is left in the templet until the glue has dried, when it can be removed ready for market. Instead of a bent strip, a framed rim may be used.

In Fig. 3 the cane-cloth is shown as lapped entirely around the strip, a second strip, 0, being forced into the strip A to firmly clamp the cane-cloth, and thus secure it. Screws 0 permanently fasten the strips A and G together. In this method of securing the canecloth to the strip, the use of glue may be omitted, although I prefer to use glue even in this construction.

It will be observed that the reverse side of the cane splints is in contact with the wooden strip. I find that this side of cane splints will glue onto wood as well as wood, and since, by gluing, every individual splint becomes firmly attached to the Wooden strip, it is by far the best mode of securing the cane-cloth. A clamping-strip alone, such as shown in Fig. 3, is only an inferior mode of securing the cane-cloth, for it must be remembered that every individual splint should have a firm hold on the strip in order to furnish a woven cane seat of durability. Unless the individual splints are thus secured, they are liable to be drawn out, destroying the seat. For this reason the sole use of tacks or screws is wholly inapplicable.

I am aware that detachable chairseats, broadly considered, are not new; but I believe 1 am the first to furnish such a detachable seat made of woven cane, as a complete article of manufacture, the construction of which, in order to provide a practical and durable article, involved the devising of special means of securing the cane-cloth to the strip or frame of the seat.

The drawing shows a seat with a slightlytapering edge. The rim 1) of seat-frame of the chair has a correspondingly-tapering opening, in which the seat is inserted. The seat is then secured by screws 01 to the rim D.

My detachable woven cane seat is far superior to, and clearly distinguishable from, a

laced cane seat, by reason of the difl'erent modes of securing the cane in the respective seats.

In my woven cane seat, the cane is bodily stretched overand glued to the strip or framea mode of securing it which is wholly inapplicable to a laced cane seat, where the individual splints must be laced separately around the frame.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A detachable cane seat composed of woven cane or cane-cloth, stretched over a continuous bent strip or frame, and permanently secured thereto by gluing, the whole being adapted to be placed within, and detachably secured to, a surrounding frame, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to the foregoing specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN LEMMAN. Witnesses CHAS. A. NEALE, B. E. J. Ems. 

